Metaverse in higher education

The metaverse has significantly changed higher education, providing immersive, interactive, and dynamic learning environments that go beyond the boundaries of the classroom. This emerging digital space includes virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR) and other immersive technologies to create virtual campuses, interactive simulations and experiential learning scenarios, fostering hands-on learning in virtual environments. The potential to enhance student engagement, promote collaboration and deliver personalised learning experiences is huge.

This article reviews the potential of the metaverse in higher education, taking into account how these technologies can change teaching methodologies and reshape student experiences. The metaverse allows students to engage in real-world practical scenarios without physical constraints, facilitating deeper understanding through learning-by-doing approaches. It also offers opportunities for global collaboration, allowing students and lecturers to interact across geographical boundaries. The paper also reviews the main challenges associated with the adoption of the metaverse in academia and proposes strategies for integrating the metaverse into university curricula.